Cotton-cleaner.



E. E. DICKERSON.

COTTON CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. l9l5.

1 ,203,7 1 O. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

'1 Illl I g NITE EUSTICE E. DIGKERSON, OF'FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

COTTON-CLEANER.

My invention has relation to an improvement 1n cotton cleaners and in such connection it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the blades or paddles whereby the cotton-may be stirred, fiuifed and agitated during its presentation to the screen surface under air pressure in its passage through the cleaner.

In an application for patent filed by me under date of January 23rd, 1915, and Serial No. 4006, I have described and shown a system of handling and cleaning cotton wherein a cotton cleaning apparatus, of substantially the form illustrated and described in my present application, wasused in conjunction with a boll breaker and other instrumentalities. In my present application the invention is limited to the construction and arrangement of the cleaning apparatus per 86 since it is adapted for use with various types of boll breakers and other adjuncts differing from those disclosed in my former application.

In carrying out my present invention there is provided a cylindrical casing inclosing a concentric screenwalled chamber and said chamber is traversed by a revolving shaft from which radiate paddle blades of peculiar formation and this conformation of blade together with the means for securing the blades to the shaft and the function which the blades perform in the screen chamber constitute the present invention. The cotton under air pressure is introduced at one end of the apparatus and the formation of the blades is such that in their revolution they not only churn the cotton and The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. *2, 19.16.

Application filed May 7, 1915. Serial No. 26,478.

accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which,

Figure l, is a side elevational view partly in longitudinal section of a cotton cleaner embodying main features of my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view thereof,

the section being taken on line a, a, of Fig.

1, and Fig. 3, is a perspective view of one of the paddle blades removed from the shaft.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the outer cylindrical shell or casing of the apparatus and 2 the cylindrical screen'wall of the concentric cleaner chamber. As explained in my application, Serial No. 4006, air and cotton under pressure are introduced to the cleaner chamber immediately after the cotton and air pass through a boll breaker chamber 3. Tra'versing the screen chamber 2 axially is a shaft 4, which is revolved or rotated by means of the drive pulley 5 situated on shaft 4 outside the casing 1. The shaft 4 intermediate of its bearings, is of polygonal cross section, the number of sides to the polygon depending upon the number of blades coacting or cooperating in the treatment of the cotton. In the instance shown in the drawings the shaft 4 is square, with one set of blades projecting from two opposite faces of the shaft and another alternating set of blades projecting from the two other opposite faces at right angles to the first set. From the base of casing 1 below the screen wall 2 is arranged a trough 6 terminating funnel like in 'a pipe 7. This trough and pipe conduct the dirt and trash blown from the cotton through screen 2 into a suitable receptacle or conveyer not shown.

Each blade of each set of blades is peculiarly formed or shaped and all the blades are of uniform shape or form. A single blade is illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. It

consists of a flat shank 8 having an angular indentation 9 fitting over a corner and two sides of the shaft, and a fiat stirring body 10 terminating in anoverhanging lip 11, the lip projecting forwardly in the direction of the travel of the cotton and air. The body 10 is formed by beveling off and slightly flattening the blade beyond the shank, so that the planes of the faces of the body 10 are at an angle of 45 degrees to the plane of the front and back of the shank.

By preference thebody 10 is slightly wider than the distance between opposite corners of the substantially square shaped shank 8. The body of the blade resembles somewhat the spoon or scull shaped blade of an oar.

In assembling the blades in pairs upon the shaft i, the preferred means shown in the drawings consists in fitting the angular indentations 9 of the blades on diametrically opposite corners of the shaft, with the bodies of the two blades projecting in opposite directions. In this position, the eX- trenie end 8 of one blade rests flat upon the portion 8 of the other blade next the body 10 and vice versa. Bolts 12 passed through contacting parts of the blades serve to unite the blades to each other and to likewise clamp the two blades to the shaft, the indentations 9 of the two blades forming a substantially square sleeve fitting around the four corners and four sides of the shaft 4.

In the operation of the device when the blades revolve with the shaft their overhanging lips or tips 11 press the cotton forwardly and downwardly over the screen 2. The bodies 10 of the blades churn the cottonas it passes through the apparatus under air pressure, and the spoon like or scull like bodies of the blades also churn the air and impart a whirling motion to the air during its transit through the apparatus.

To partially separate the air from the cotton at the discharge end of the cleaner,

there is provided a vent or flue 13 at the top of easing 1.

Having thus described the nature and ob jects of my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. In a cotton cleaner, a casing, a screen chamber inclosed by said casing and concentric therewith, a means for introducing air and cotton under pressure to the interior of the screen chamber, a shaft traversing the screen chamber axially, a series of blades projecting from the shaft and revolving therewith, each of said blades having a flattened body projecting at an angle to the plane of the shank of the blade, and each body provided at its free end with a forwardly and downwardly projecting lip.

2. In a device of the character described, a paddle blade comprising a shank, a flat surfaced body for the blade formed integral with the shank and projecting with its flat surfaces therefrom at an angle of 45 degrees to the plane of the flat faces of the shank, said body curved forward and downward to form at its free end an overhanging lip.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EIISTICE E. DICKERSON.

Htnesses W. C. GRIFFIN, D. O. MODLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, W'ashington, D. 0'. 

